Bag convertible to tray

ABSTRACT

A bag convertible to a tray. The bag incorporates a tray portion made from a first material, with a second, more flaccid material extending the walls of the tray portion. Score lines along the more flaccid material enable a user to tear the walls from the open end of the bag to the tray portion. With the tray portion of the bag on the lap of the user seated on a seat, the walls of the bag, now separated, may be placed over the abdomen and legs of the user, for example, to intercept spillage, with intervening walls placed underneath the legs of the user to anchor the tray portion on the lap of the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bags, and more particularly, to a bag which converts to a tray having splash protective bibs projecting therefrom.

BACKGROUND

Purchasing fast food has been popular for years. Many customers choose to order fast food from available drive-in service, and then eat the food in their vehicles. Typically, a customer will retrieve each food item from a paper bag in which the food was placed when delivered to the customer. Types of food contained in the paper bag vary, but typically include hamburgers and other sandwiches, french fries, and beverages, among other offerings. Fast food retail outlets may provide paper trays to support these foods. However, providing trays entails additional costs and increased storage space burdens to the fast food retail outlets. There exists a need to reduce usage of food containers and ancillary items such as trays.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure addresses the above stated situation by providing a bag which is readily convertible to a tray. The bottom of the bag is reinforced with paper or cardboard which is significantly stiffer than typical paper bags used in fast food outlets, and serves as a tray. The paper portion of the bag above the bottom is torn along pre-existing score lines and peeled away from the tray portion of the original bag. The panels generated by tearing the bag are usable as coverings to intercept spillage, or splashed or dropped foods. The panels may include a malleable wire or other malleable material within the panels such that said panels can be molded to a plurality of fixed positions or shapes. The panels so generated may be placed beneath the thighs of a person and molded to the person's thigh shape to securely anchor the tray on the lap of an occupant of a motor vehicle. If a person is desirous to eat a portion of the meal and save the remainder for later, the panels can be tied or twisted together creating a makeshift bundle for the food to be secured for later consumption when being transported thereby reducing the risk of spillage, splashed foods, or dropped foods. Thereafter, once a person has finished consuming the foods, the two panels can be tied or twisted together to create a makeshift bundle to discard the remnants of a meal in a convenient and efficient manner in which spillage, or splashed or dropped foods can be intercepted.

Thus, customers are provided with trays which include anchoring elements for stability, and sanitary coverings to protect against spilled or dropped foods. The trays are inexpensively incorporated into bags which bags also serve to transfer a collection of foods, beverages, and ancillary items such as condiments, napkins, straws, and the like to customers of fast food retail outlets in their motor vehicles.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present disclosure will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present disclosure will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag convertible to a tray, according to at least one aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1, after walls of the bag have been torn when converting the bag to a tray;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bag generally similar to the bag of FIG. 1, but having different score lines for tearing the walls of the bag in a way slightly different from that illustrated in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 3 after tearing the walls to convert the bag to a tray; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram summarizing a method of making and using a bag such as those shown in FIGS. 1-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, according to at least one aspect of the disclosure, there is shown bag 100 which is convertible to a tray (not separately shown). The bag 100 comprises tray portion 102 including floor 104 (FIG. 2) and a plurality of upstanding walls 106 projecting from floor 104. Each two adjacent upstanding walls 106 meet one another at one corner 108 of tray portion 102. The corners 108 extend upwardly along upstanding walls 108, and will therefore be understood to be part of both tray portion 102 and bag 100. Bag 100 has an axis 110 along and central to upstanding walls 106, and a periphery 112 along which each of the upstanding walls 106 is joined to two adjacent upstanding walls 106 along respective seams 114.

Bag 100 includes an extension member 116 projecting upwardly from standing walls 106 of the tray portion 102, periphery 112 being part of extension member 116 as well as walls 106. Extension member 116 has a proximal end 118 in contact with tray portion 102 and an opposed distal end 120 away from tray portion 102. Extension member 116 is continuous about periphery 112 of tray portion 102.

Extension member 116 comprises one panel 126 (FIG. 2) for each one of the upstanding walls 106 of tray portion 102. Each panel 126 extends upwardly from one of the upstanding walls 106 of tray portion 102, with bag 100 in a deployed configuration shown in FIG. 1. Each panel 126 may include a malleable wire 125 or malleable material 125 in each panel 126 such that the panel can be molded to a plurality of fixed positions or shapes (FIG. 2). In one embodiment, the malleable material 125 is embedded in each panel 126 and may be S-shaped (FIG. 2) wherein the panel 126 in conjunction with said malleable material 125 can be molded over a person's legs and tucked under the thighs to anchor the tray on the lap of an occupant of a motor vehicle reducing the risk of spillage, splashed foods, or dropped foods. In another embodiment, the malleable material 125 in conjunction with the panel 126 allows the bag to remain open such that a person can mold the panels 126 away from the tray for easier access to the food (FIG. 2). In the deployed configuration, bag 100 is completely unfolded from a folded stowed configuration (not shown), with floor 104 horizontal, and distal end 120 above floor 104. In actual use, the upper end of bag 100 may be folded, twisted, or crumpled (none of these configurations is shown) to facilitate grasping bag 100 in one hand, and to retain articles (none shown) contained within bag 100.

Panels 126 are present in bag 100 in the deployed configuration of FIG. 1, but are called out in FIG. 2, where they are more readily identified because each panel 126 has been, in FIG. 2, torn free of adjacent panels 126.

Extension member 116 further comprises a scored seam 128 between each one of panels 126. Scored seams 128 are seams treated to promote tearing along a predetermined path. Treatment may be severe folding, perforations, and other effects which weaken the treated seam such that when a person pulls panels 126 apart, a resulting tear occurs along a scored seam 128 between each of the panels 126 which are being pulled apart.

In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, scored seams 128 are on opposed panels 126 of extension member 116. Each one of the scored seams 128 includes a first leg 130 extending parallel to floor 104 of tray portion 102, and a second leg 132 intersecting first leg 130, second leg 132 projecting perpendicularly from first leg 130, and extending to a corner 114 of bag 100. Therefore, it will be apparent that scored seams 128 do not coincide with seams 114.

Tray portion 102 is made entirely or partially from a first material such as paperboard or another cellulosic material. Extension member 116 is made from a tearable material, such as paper, having rigidity less than that of the first material from which tray portion 102 is made.

Bag 100 has a height 122 along axis 110 when erected in the deployed configuration shown in FIG. 1. Tray portion has a height 124 along axis 110 when bag 100 is erected in the deployed configuration of FIG. 1. Height 124 of tray portion 102 is less than half the height 122 of bag 100.

Exemplary dimensions of bag 100 are as follows. Bag 100 may be eight to sixteen inches in height 122, and five to ten inches in width and in thickness, width and thickness being designated using the same reference numeral 134. Tray portion 102 may have a height 136 of two to three inches. A ratio of height 122 of bag 100 to height 136 of tray portion 102 may be for example three to about eight.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a bag 200 is depicted. Bag 200 generally has construction and other characteristics of bag 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, such as having a tray portion 202 and upstanding walls 206 projecting therefrom, which includes a panel 226 wherein a malleable wire 127 or malleable material 127 comprises the panel (FIG. 4), except that scored seams 228 are located differently than scored seams 128 of bag 100. In FIG. 3, scored seams 228 extend along and are coincident with corners 214 of bag 200 from tray portion 202 to distal end 220 of extension member 216. In FIG. 4, another embodiment illustrates that the malleable wire or material 127 comprises the panel 226 such that the malleable wire or malleable material 127 is straight as opposed to S-shaped. In another embodiment, said panels 226 in conjunction with the malleable material 127 can be used to cover the tray portion 202 by drawing or fastening together the panels 226, such that transportation of the bag 200 with its contents contained therein is convenient by reducing the risk of spillage, splashed foods, or dropped foods. A consequence of the different scored seams 128 and 228 is different dimensions of panels 126 and 226 (FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively). In different embodiments, panels 126 and 226 (FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively) may include a malleable wire or malleable material 125 or 127 such that the panel can be molded to a plurality of fixed positions and shapes. It is also appreciated by the inventor that the malleable wire or malleable material could be used in any one of the panels and upstanding walls to obtain the benefits discussed herein. In FIG. 2, a panel 126A is seen to have a width 138 greater than a distance 140 between seams 114. In FIG. 4, a panel 226A corresponding to panel 126A in FIG. 2 has a width 238 less than the corresponding width 138 of bag 100. This comparison holds true for bags 100, 200 of identical height, width, and thickness dimensions.

A similar situation exists for thickness. Thickness 142 of panel 126B of bag 100 (see FIG. 2) is less than that of thickness 242 of corresponding panel 226B of bag 200 (see FIG. 4).

Significance of these different dimensional relationships will be explained in the context of use of bags 100 and 200.

FIG. 5 summarizes a method 300 of making and using a bag (e.g., bag 100 or 200) converted to a tray, method 300 comprising tearing walls (e.g. upstanding walls 106 or 206) of a bag (e.g., bag 100 or 200) from a distal end (e.g., distal end 120 or 220 of bag 100 or 200) to a point leaving an untorn zone (e.g., coinciding with tray portions 102 or 202 of bag 100 or 200) of each wall (e.g., upstanding walls 106 or 206) of the bag (e.g., bag 100 or 200) proximate a floor (e.g., floor 104 or 204 of bag 100 or 200) (seen as block 302 in FIG. 5). Method 300 includes placing the bag on a lap of a user (not shown) (block 304), and placing one panel (e.g., panel 126 or 226) of the torn walls beneath a leg of the user (block 306). In method 300, the user is seated, for example, in a motor vehicle being driven to a fast food retail outlet (not shown). When a panel 126 or 226 is placed beneath the leg, its associated tray 102 or 202 is somewhat stabilized, or constrained from being dislodged from the lap.

Where panel 126 or 226 placed beneath the leg of the user is a first panel, method 300 may further comprise placing a second panel 126 or 226 opposed to first panel 126 or 226 beneath the other leg of the user (block 308). With opposed panels 126 or 226 secured beneath the legs of the user, tray 102 or 202 is well stabilized or constrained from being dislodged from the lap.

Method 300 may further comprise placing bag 100 or 200 on the lap of the user, with a floor (e.g., floor 104 or 204) of the bag against the lap and one panel (e.g., panel 126 or 226) of the torn walls covering the abdomen of the user (block 310). By this expedient, an otherwise unused wall of bag 100 or 200 finds utility as a shield or bib protecting the abdomen and perhaps part of the chest against spillage of food.

Method 300 may further comprise placing a panel (e.g., panel 126 or 226) opposed to the panel covering the abdomen over legs of the user (block 312). Thus, both the abdomen and the legs of the user may be protected against spillage.

It should be understood that the various examples of the apparatuses disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, and functionalities of any of the other examples of the apparatuses disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Many modifications of examples set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific examples presented and that modifications and other examples are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe examples of the present disclosure in the context of certain illustrative combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A bag which is convertible to a tray, comprising: a tray portion including a floor and a plurality of upstanding walls projecting from the floor, wherein each two adjacent walls meet one another at a corner of the tray portion, an axis along and central to the upstanding walls, and a periphery along which each of the walls is joined to two adjacent walls along respective seams, and an extension member projecting upwardly from the upstanding walls of the tray portion, wherein the extension member has a proximal end in contact with the tray portion and an opposed distal end away from the tray portion; the extension member is continuous about the periphery of the tray portion, and the tray portion is made from a first material and the extension member is made from a tearable material having rigidity less than that of the first material.
 2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has a height along the axis when erected in a deployed configuration, the tray portion has a height along the axis when the bag is erected in the deployed configuration, and the height of the tray portion is less than half the height of the bag.
 3. The bag of claim 1, wherein the extension member comprises one panel for each one of the upstanding walls of the tray portion, each panel extending upwardly from one of the upstanding walls of the tray portion, the extension member further comprising a scored seam between each one of the panels.
 4. The bag of claim 3, wherein the scored seams are on opposed panels of the extension member, and each one of the scored seams includes a first leg extending parallel to the floor of the tray portion, and a second leg intersecting the first leg, projecting perpendicularly therefrom, and extending to a corner of the bag.
 5. The bag of claim 3, wherein the scored seams extend from the corners of the bag from the tray portion to the distal end of the extension member.
 6. The bag of claim 1, wherein the tearable material of the extension member is paper.
 7. The bag of claim 1, wherein the first material of the tray portion is cellulosic.
 8. The bag of claim 1, wherein at least one of said panels further comprises a malleable material.
 9. The bag of claim 8, wherein the malleable material is a wire.
 10. A method of converting a bag to a tray, comprising tearing walls of the bag from a distal end of the bag to a point leaving an untorn zone of each wall of the bag proximate a floor of the bag.
 11. A method of using a bag converted to a tray, wherein walls of the bag have been torn from a distal end of the bag to a point leaving an untorn zone of each wall of the bag proximate a floor of the bag, the method comprising: placing the bag on a lap of a user, with a floor of the bag against the lap and one panel of the torn walls covering the abdomen of the user.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing an opposed panel of the torn walls over legs of the user.
 13. A method of using a bag converted to a tray, wherein walls of the bag have been torn from a distal end of the bag to a point leaving an untorn zone of each wall of the bag proximate a floor of the bag, the method comprising: placing the bag on a lap of a user, and placing one panel of the torn walls beneath a leg of the user.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the panel placed beneath the leg of the user is a first panel, the method comprising placing a second panel opposed to the first panel beneath the other leg of the user.
 15. A method of converting a bag to a tray, wherein the bag includes a tray portion and wall portion, the method comprising the step of removing the wall portion from the tray portion.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method of removing the wall portion from the tray portion is done by tearing.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the tray portion is reinforced relative to the wall portion.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the tray portion is reinforced relative to the wall portion.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the wall portion and the tray portion are separated by perforations.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of removing the wall portion from the tray portion is accomplished by utilizing said perforations. 